Slugged the throat-oversized .303-what now?

[samwithacolt]

Slugged my no4 yesterday, not happy. Lands are almost .308, grooves .318!
I have a lyman .314299, hopelessly small. Tried some, tumbling at 50 yds.
The nose portion is barely .303, the bands about .313.
Option 1- Do I try to get a custom mold with a .309 nose rider and .319 bands?
Option 2- Can I size the boolit in my .309 sizer and PP the whole thing to .319?
Option 3-use it as an occasional J-bullet gun, and live with the 4" groups?
Thoughts?

[swheeler]

Option 4 size down an 8mm boolit, you'll have to get a push thru sizer of correct dia

[WILCO]

Thoughts?

Hi Sam!

Check out this link: http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?117331-Mould-Enlargement-“beagling”

If going paper patch, I wouldn't size it down.
One last thing, what did you use to measure the slug? Calipers or micrometer?

[samwithacolt]

Thanks, I do have a lee 8mm for my .32 ws.
Maybe if I lap out a lee .314 sizer to .319? If I get a bigger mold I'll need a sizer anyway.
Worth a try.

[samwithacolt]

Beagling still leaves it way undersized. I have a dial vernier to measure the slug. I dropped a .36 ball into the chamber, pushed it a few inches into the bore and back out.

[WILCO]

Beagling still leaves it way undersized.

I don't see how it could if you use the high temp tape?



I have a dial vernier to measure the slug. I dropped a .36 ball into the chamber, pushed it a few inches into the bore and back out.

Well, before I did anything more, I'd go back to square one and slug the bore as explained in the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. I'd also get a micrometer or find someone with a V-mic for an accurate measurement of the slug. Going from there, I'd make sure of my powder and lube selection. It's not a hard fix, but it's worthwhile to go forward with solid facts. Keep us posted.

[samwithacolt]

Not sure how beagling can make the nose 5 thou bigger?

[Jack Stanley]

That was a problem I had with an SMLE once upon a time . I fixed it by making an impression slug of the throat and sending it to LBT along with a money order and Veral made a very good mold that works quite well . I called RCBS and got a sizer die and a "M" type expander . It all worked so well I later called RCBS and got another smaller size die for an Savage number four with a huge groove and used the LBT bullet in that too .

Jack

[swheeler]

Thanks, I do have a lee 8mm for my .32 ws.
Maybe if I lap out a lee .314 sizer to .319? If I get a bigger mold I'll need a sizer anyway.
Worth a try.

If thats the 175 gr Lee it will cast a .310-11 nose and may work just fine in your 303

[samwithacolt]

Just checked my .323 boolits, nose is .315.

[swheeler]

Just checked my .323 boolits, nose is .315.

Seems large, mine is .311

[blixen]

Beagling still leaves it way undersized. I have a dial vernier to measure the slug. I dropped a .36 ball into the chamber, pushed it a few inches into the bore and back out.

I sympathize. I've been challenged by a no. 4 sporter and a 7.7 Arisaka . I have the Lee 175 "Enfield " mold but even beagled .314 is the best I can do.

[samwithacolt]

I have a lee .312 160 gr that drops the body at about .311.
If I run the boolit through a .309 sizer and then PP it to groove diameter I might have something usable. If it's long enough.

[blixen]

If you try working with the Lee 8mm mold, let us know how it goes. I'm considering getting one and lapping out the .314 sizer to .316-.317 and trying it. I have the LEE C329-205 (8x56) mold that casts beautifully for my 8mm Yugo, but it's way too big to size down for my .303s, 7.7 Arisakas or Argies.

BTW, I thought buying the Lyman .314299 was going to solve all my problems, until I saw your post. Tnx.

[JeffinNZ]

For a two groove barrel .318 I can believe but .308 bore I have a problem with. Can you double check it? Never seen one reported like that.

[fatelvis]

The variances in these rifle's bores always amazes me.

[petroid]

Have you tried powder coating? I pc my Lee C312-185-1R boolits and it adds about .004

[samwithacolt]

I just bought a no 4 mk 2, so if it has a decent bore I'll swap the full length wood over and sell the mk 1 to someone who shoots j bullets.

[longbow]

Since no-one else has asked, I will ~ how are you using a vernier to check? if two groove, okay but if 5 groove pretty difficult to get decent readings.

I would slug the throat and forget groove diameter. My Lee Enfields all run around 0.314" groove and 0.315"+ throat to I size to 0.315" if gas checking or use as cast up to about 0.317" in PB nose bore riders (home made moulds).

If your gun is truly 0.308" bore and 0.318" groove paper patching is probably your best bet... or positively confirm your measurements then get Accurate Molds to cut you a mould to suit. Tom can take a proven design like the Lyman 314299 and scale it up to suit your bore and groove requirements.

Longbow

[samwithacolt]

Finally got my no 4 mk 2. All my troubles are over! Or at least my .303 related ones. My new gun is a sporter with full military barrel. I resisted the urge to swap the wood from my mk1 one until I test fired the new one. Went out today with some lee 160, lee 180 and lyman 200 gr, all over 10 gr Unique. Best group was about 11/2" at 100!
Time to swap the wood and load some more brass!

[A pause for the COZ]

Welcome to my world. I have a two groove Long Branch .303 Bore .317 groove but the throat is .316
Jacked shoot fine but cast just pastern or worse, key hole at 50 yards.

[samwithacolt]

A custom mold costs more than a no4 sporter. I don't have enough time to tinker with the 2 groove, so it made more sense to find a gun that would shoot the boolits I have. I've swapped the full wood over to the "new" one, need to see how it shoots now.